U.S. patent number 8,966,932 [Application Number 13/137,307] was granted by the patent office on 2015-03-03 for refrigerator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Ji Young Lee, Sang Hoon Lee, Mi Sun Park. Invention is credited to Ji Young Lee, Sang Hoon Lee, Mi Sun Park.
United States Patent |
8,966,932 |
Lee , et al. |
March 3, 2015 |
Refrigerator
Abstract
A refrigerator having an ice thermal storage device. The
refrigerator includes a cabinet, a storage compartment defined in
the cabinet, and an ice thermal storage device placed in the
storage compartment. The ice thermal storage device includes a case
including at least one heat transfer plate, and an ice thermal
storage pack received in the case and arranged to come into contact
with the at least one heat transfer plate.
Inventors: |
Lee; Sang Hoon (Yeoju-gun,
KR), Park; Mi Sun (Suwon-si, KR), Lee; Ji
Young (Seoul, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lee; Sang Hoon
Park; Mi Sun
Lee; Ji Young |
Yeoju-gun
Suwon-si
Seoul |
N/A
N/A
N/A |
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
(Suwon-Si, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
44763800 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/137,307 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2011 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20120055191 A1 |
Mar 8, 2012 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 6, 2010 [KR] |
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10-2010-0087207 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/459; 62/457.2;
62/253; 312/408; 62/521 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D
11/006 (20130101); F25D 25/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F25D
3/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;62/459,521,375,457.2,312,253 ;312/401,116,408,407 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1459611 |
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Dec 2003 |
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CN |
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1636469 |
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Jul 2005 |
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CN |
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201555416 |
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Aug 2010 |
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CN |
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2000-180046 |
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Jun 2000 |
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JP |
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2002-107078 |
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Apr 2002 |
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JP |
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Other References
Chinese Office Action issued Nov. 4, 2014 in corresponding Chinese
Patent Application No. 201110259925.4. cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Ciric; Ljiljana
Assistant Examiner: Cox; Alexis
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Staas & Halsey LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a storage compartment
defined in the cabinet; and an ice thermal storage device placed in
the storage compartment, wherein the ice thermal storage device
includes a case including at least one heat transfer plate; and an
ice thermal storage pack received in the case and arranged to come
into contact with the at least one heat transfer plate, wherein the
case includes an expansion induction region to provide an expansion
space for the ice thermal storage pack, so as to maintain contact
between the ice thermal storage pack and the heat transfer plate,
and the case includes at least one support bar upwardly protruding
from an inner surface of the case by a predetermined distance and
serving to support a lateral surface of the ice thermal storage
pack, wherein an upper end of the at least one support bar is
located lower than an upper surface of the ice thermal storage
pack, and the expansion induction region is defined by a space
between the upper end of the at least one support bar and the inner
surface of the case, and the ice thermal storage pack is expandable
into the expansion induction region.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the case includes
an air-bubble guide region to guide interior air of the ice thermal
storage pack during expansion of the ice thermal storage pack, so
as to maintain contact between the ice thermal storage pack and the
heat transfer plate.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the air-bubble
guide region is defined by a space above an upper edge of the ice
thermal storage pack.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the heat transfer
plate is located above the air-bubble guide region.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein: the case
includes a housing configured to receive the ice thermal storage
pack therein and to support the heat transfer plate coupled
thereto; and the housing is located above the air-bubble guide
region.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: the case
includes a first housing in which the ice thermal storage pack is
received and a second housing to which the heat transfer plate is
coupled; and the first housing and the second housing are coupled
to each other such that the heat transfer plate comes into contact
with the ice thermal storage pack.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein: the first
housing includes an assembly groove for coupling of the second
housing; and a lower end of the second housing, extending
downwardly from an upper surface of the second housing, is fitted
into the assembly groove.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the case further
includes a load carrying member to carry the heat transfer
plate.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein: the load
carrying member divides the interior of the case into a plurality
of spaces; and a plurality of ice thermal storage packs is arranged
respectively in the plurality of spaces.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a
shelf secured to an inner wall of the storage compartment, wherein
the ice thermal storage device is coupled to the shelf.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, further comprising a
support member fixed to the inner wall of the storage compartment,
wherein the shelf is slidably fitted into the support member, and
the shelf includes a seating portion indented to have a shape
corresponding to that of the ice thermal storage device.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the heat
transfer plate is made of a metallic material.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the heat
transfer plate includes a coating layer formed on at least one
surface thereof.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
support bar includes a first support bar and a second support bar
to support opposite lateral surfaces of the ice thermal storage
pack respectively.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
heat transfer plate includes a first heat transfer plate and a
second heat transfer plate to come into contact with upper and
lower surfaces of the ice thermal storage pack respectively.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a
guide provided at the inner wall of the storage compartment,
wherein the ice thermal storage device further includes a coupling
portion coupled to the guide, the ice thermal storage device
serving as a shelf.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a
storage container received in the storage compartment to provide a
separate storage space, wherein the ice thermal storage device is
mounted to a lower surface of the storage container.
18. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a storage compartment
defined in the cabinet; and an ice thermal storage device placed in
the storage compartment, wherein the ice thermal storage device
includes a case including at least one heat transfer plate; and an
ice thermal storage pack received in the case and arranged to come
into contact with the at least one heat transfer plate; wherein the
case includes a first housing in which the ice thermal storage pack
is received and a second housing to which the heat transfer plate
is coupled; the first housing and the second housing are coupled to
each other such that the heat transfer plate comes into contact
with the ice thermal storage pack; the first housing includes an
upwardly protruding fastening piece; the heat transfer plate
includes a fastening hole provided at a position corresponding to
the fastening piece, the fastening piece being inserted through the
fastening hole; the second housing includes a downwardly open
fastening recess provided at a position corresponding to the
fastening piece, the fastening recess being inserted over a top of
the fastening piece and being configured to secure the top of the
fastening piece when the fastening piece is inserted into the
fastening recess, whereby the ice thermal storage device is
assembled as the fastening piece is successively inserted through
the fastening hole and inserted into and secured by the fastening
recess.
19. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a storage compartment
defined in the cabinet; and an ice thermal storage device placed in
the storage compartment, wherein the ice thermal storage device
includes a case including at least one heat transfer plate; and an
ice thermal storage pack received in the case and arranged to come
into contact with the at least one heat transfer plate, wherein the
ice thermal storage pack includes a fixing hole; and the case
further includes a protruding fixing pin corresponding to the
fixing hole, the ice thermal storage pack being kept at a fixed
position by the fixing pin inserted into the fixing hole.
20. An ice thermal storage device comprising: a case including at
least one heat transfer plate; and an ice thermal storage pack
received in the case and arranged to come into contact with the at
least one heat transfer plate, wherein the case includes an
expansion induction region to provide an expansion space for the
ice thermal storage pack, so as to maintain contact between the ice
thermal storage pack and the heat transfer plate, the case includes
a support bar upwardly protruding from an inner surface of the case
by a predetermined distance and serving to support a lateral
surface of the ice thermal storage pack, and an upper end of the
support bar is located lower than an upper surface of the ice
thermal storage pack, and the expansion induction region is defined
by a space between the upper end of the support bar and the inner
surface of the case, and the ice thermal storage pack is expandable
into the expansion induction region.
21. The ice thermal storage device according to claim 20, wherein
the case includes an air-bubble guide region to guide interior air
of the ice thermal storage pack during expansion of the ice thermal
storage pack, so as to maintain contact between the ice thermal
storage pack and the heat transfer plate.
22. The ice thermal storage device according to claim 21, wherein
the air-bubble guide region is defined by a space above an upper
edge of the ice thermal storage pack.
23. The ice thermal storage device according to claim 20, wherein:
the case further includes a load carrying member to carry the heat
transfer plate and divide the interior of the case into a plurality
of spaces; and a plurality of ice thermal storage packs is arranged
respectively in the plurality of spaces.
24. The ice thermal storage device according to claim 20, wherein
the at least one heat transfer plate includes a first heat transfer
plate and a second heat transfer plate to come into contact with
upper and lower surfaces of the ice thermal storage pack
respectively.
25. The ice thermal storage device according to claim 20, wherein
the heat transfer plate is made of a metallic material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application
No. 2010-0087207, filed on Sep. 6, 2010 in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
Embodiments relate to a refrigerator having an ice thermal storage
device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a refrigerator is designed to keep stored items fresh
for a long time using cold air supplied into a storage compartment
thereof. The cold air supplied into the storage compartment is
produced by heat-exchange of a refrigerant. The cold air is
uniformly transferred throughout the storage compartment by
convection, enabling storage of food at a desired temperature.
The storage compartment may be divided into a refrigerating
compartment and a freezing compartment based on an interior
temperature and a purpose thereof. The freezing compartment, which
keeps food at a temperature below zero, may contain an ice thermal
storage material, to enhance cooling efficiency of food.
The ice thermal storage material is sealed in a pack and is placed
in the freezing compartment. In this case, if the pack enclosing
the ice thermal storage material breaks, the ice thermal storage
material is exposed to food, damaging the food. Moreover, if the
ice thermal storage material varies in volume during phase change
from liquid to solid, the ice thermal storage pack undergoes
surface deformation, which may reduce a food contact area and
cooling efficiency.
SUMMARY
It is an aspect to provide a refrigerator having an ice thermal
storage device to enhance cooling efficiency.
Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the invention.
In accordance with one aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinet, a
storage compartment defined in the cabinet, and an ice thermal
storage device placed in the storage compartment, wherein the ice
thermal storage device includes a case including at least one heat
transfer plate, and an ice thermal storage pack received in the
case and arranged to come into contact with the at least one heat
transfer plate.
The case may include an expansion induction region to provide an
expansion space for the ice thermal storage pack, so as to maintain
contact between the ice thermal storage pack and the heat transfer
plate.
The case may include an upwardly protruding support bar spaced
apart from an inner surface of the case by a predetermined distance
and serving to support a lateral surface of the ice thermal storage
pack.
The support bar may include a first support bar and a second
support bar to support opposite lateral surfaces of the ice thermal
storage pack respectively.
An upper end of the support bar may be located lower than an upper
surface of the ice thermal storage pack.
The expansion induction region may be defined by a space between
the upper end of the support bar and the inner surface of the case,
and the ice thermal storage pack may be expandable into the
expansion induction region.
The case may include an air-bubble guide region to guide interior
air of the ice thermal storage pack during expansion of the ice
thermal storage pack, so as to maintain contact between the ice
thermal storage pack and the heat transfer plate.
The air-bubble guide region may be defined by a space above an
upper edge of the ice thermal storage pack.
The heat transfer plate may be located above the air-bubble guide
region.
The case may include a housing configured to receive the ice
thermal storage pack therein and to support the heat transfer plate
coupled thereto, and the housing may be located above the
air-bubble guide region.
The case may include a first housing in which the ice thermal
storage pack is received and a second housing to which the heat
transfer plate is coupled, and the first housing and the second
housing may be coupled to each other such that the heat transfer
plate comes into close contact with the ice thermal storage
pack.
The first housing may include an assembly groove for coupling of
the second housing, and an end of the second housing, extending
angularly from an upper surface of the second housing, may be
fitted into the assembly groove.
The first housing may include an upwardly protruding fastening
piece, the heat transfer plate may include a fastening hole
provided at a position corresponding to the fastening piece, the
second housing may include a downwardly open fastening recess
provided at a position corresponding to the fastening piece, and
the ice thermal storage device may be assembled as the fastening
piece is successively fastened into the fastening hole and the
fastening recess.
The ice thermal storage pack may include a fixing hole, the case
may further include a fixing pin protruding toward the fixing hole
so as to correspond to the fixing hole, and the ice thermal storage
pack may be kept at a fixed position as the fixing pin is inserted
into the fixing hole.
The case may further include a load carrying member to carry the
heat transfer plate.
The load carrying member may divide the interior of the case into a
plurality of spaces, and a plurality of ice thermal storage packs
may be arranged respectively in the plurality of spaces.
The heat transfer plate may include a first heat transfer plate and
a second heat transfer plate to come into contact with upper and
lower surfaces of the ice thermal storage pack respectively.
The refrigerator may further include a shelf secured to an inner
wall of the storage compartment, and the ice thermal storage device
may be coupled to the shelf.
The shelf may include a support member fixed to the inner wall of
the storage compartment and a shelf member slidably fitted into the
support member, and the shelf member may include a seating recess
indented to have a shape corresponding to that of the ice thermal
storage device.
The refrigerator may further include a guide provided at the inner
wall of the storage compartment, and the ice thermal storage device
may further include a coupling portion coupled to the guide, the
ice thermal storage device serving as a shelf.
The refrigerator may further include a storage container received
in the storage compartment to provide a separate storage space, and
the ice thermal storage device may be mounted to a lower surface of
the storage container.
The heat transfer plate may be made of a metallic material.
The heat transfer plate may include a coating layer formed on at
least one surface thereof.
In accordance with another aspect, an ice thermal storage device
includes a case including at least one heat transfer plate, and an
ice thermal storage pack received in the case and arranged to come
into contact with the at least one heat transfer plate.
The case may include an expansion induction region to provide an
expansion space for the ice thermal storage pack, so as to maintain
contact between the ice thermal storage pack and the heat transfer
plate.
The case may include an upwardly protruding support bar spaced
apart from an inner surface of the case by a predetermined distance
and serving to support a lateral surface of the ice thermal storage
pack, and an upper end of the support bar may be located lower than
an upper surface of the ice thermal storage pack.
The expansion induction region may be defined by a space between
the upper end of the support bar and the inner surface of the case,
and the ice thermal storage pack may be expandable into the
expansion induction region.
The case may include an air-bubble guide region to guide interior
air of the ice thermal storage pack during expansion of the ice
thermal storage pack, so as to maintain contact between the ice
thermal storage pack and the heat transfer plate.
The air-bubble guide region may be defined by a space above an
upper edge of the ice thermal storage pack.
The case may further include a load carrying member to carry the
heat transfer plate and divide the interior of the case into a
plurality of spaces, and a plurality of ice thermal storage packs
may be arranged respectively in the plurality of spaces.
The heat transfer plate may include a first heat transfer plate and
a second heat transfer plate to come into contact with upper and
lower surfaces of the ice thermal storage pack respectively.
The heat transfer plate may be made of a metallic material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent
and more readily appreciated from the following description of the
embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating major components of a
refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a shelf assembly provided
in the refrigerator in accordance with the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an ice thermal
storage device in accordance with the embodiment;
FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the ice thermal storage device in
accordance with the embodiment;
FIG. 4B is a sectional view of an ice thermal storage device in
accordance with another embodiment;
FIG. 4C is a sectional view of an ice thermal storage device in
accordance with another embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an ice thermal storage device in
accordance with another embodiment;
FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating expansion of the ice thermal
storage pack of the ice thermal storage device in accordance with
different embodiments;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the ice thermal device in
accordance with another embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating an ice thermal storage
device in accordance with another embodiment;
FIG. 9A is a perspective view illustrating an ice thermal storage
device in accordance with a further embodiment; and
FIG. 9B is a sectional view of the ice thermal storage device
illustrated in FIG. 9A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements
throughout.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating major components of a
refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 includes a cabinet 10
defining a storage compartment 20, and a door 30 to open or close
the storage compartment 20.
The door 30 is pivotally rotatable relative to the cabinet 10 to
open or close the storage compartment 20. To enable pivotal
rotation of the door 30 relative to the cabinet 10, a hinge 31 is
coupled to at least one of upper and lower ends of the door 30.
The storage compartment 20 is defined in the cabinet 10 and
functions to keep food at a low temperature. There may be a
plurality of storage compartments 20 as necessary. The plurality of
storage compartments 20 is separated from one another by a
partition 11 provided in the cabinet 10.
A first storage container 50 and a second storage container 60 may
be arranged in a lower region of the storage compartment 20 so as
to provide separate storage spaces. The first and second storage
containers 50 and 60 are slidable relative to the storage
compartment 20.
A shelf assembly 40 may be placed in the storage compartment 20 to
divide the storage compartment 20 into a plurality of spaces. The
shelf assembly 40 may be secured to, or be slidable relative to an
inner wall of the storage compartment 20.
Food stored in the storage compartment 20 is cooled by cold air
generated from an evaporator (not shown). The cold air enables
uniform cooling of food within the storage compartment 20. Note
that cold air has no ability to cool only specific food
rapidly.
Accordingly, to enhance cooling efficiency of food stored in the
storage compartment 20, the refrigerator includes an ice thermal
storage device 100 provided to come into contact with food.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the shelf assembly of the
refrigerator in accordance with the embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the shelf assembly 40 includes a support
frame 41 coupled to the inner wall of the storage compartment 20
and a shelf 42 fitted into the support frame 41.
The inner wall of the storage compartment 20 is provided with a
support structure 21 and the support frame 41 is provided with a
mounting structure 44 corresponding to the support structure 21.
The support structure 21 may be a groove indented in the inner wall
of the storage compartment 20 and the mounting structure 44 may be
a protrusion corresponding to the groove. Of course, conversely,
the support structure 21 may be a protrusion and the mounting
structure 44 may be a corresponding groove.
The shelf 42 may be slidably fitted into the support frame 41. As
such, when attempting to take out food placed on the shelf 42, the
shelf 42 is pulled out so as to be slidably moved out of the
storage compartment 20. In this case, the support frame 41 is
provided with a plurality of stoppers (not shown), realizing
stepwise sliding movement of the shelf 42.
The sliding movement of the shelf 42 out of the storage compartment
20 may cause food placed on the shelf 42 to fall rearward. To
prevent this, the shelf 42 is provided at a rear end thereof with
an anti-fall bar 43 having a predetermined height.
The ice thermal storage device 100 may be coupled to the shelf 42.
The shelf 42 may have a seating recess 45 having a shape
corresponding to the ice thermal storage device 100 such that the
ice thermal storage device 100 is seated in the seating recess 45.
Once the ice thermal storage device 100 is seated into the seating
recess 45 and is coupled to the shelf 42, food is placed on an
upper surface of the ice thermal storage device 100. As food comes
into contact with the ice thermal storage device 100 having a
relatively low temperature, efficient cooling of food may be
possible.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the ice thermal
storage device in accordance with the embodiment, and FIG. 4A is a
sectional view of the ice thermal storage device in accordance with
the embodiment.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4A, the ice thermal storage device
100 includes an ice thermal storage pack 140 in which an ice
thermal material 141 is sealed, and a case 101 in which the ice
thermal storage pack 140 is received.
The ice thermal storage material 141 may be phase change material
(PCM), which is in liquid phase at a room temperature and is
changed to a solid phase at a temperature of the storage
compartment 20 when the ice thermal storage device 100 is placed in
the storage compartment 20 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The ice
thermal storage material 141 may increase or decrease in volume
while undergoing phase change from liquid to solid, or vice versa.
For example, the ice thermal storage material 141 may be any one of
water, a mixture of water and a PCM, and other aqueous solutions.
The constituent components of the ice thermal storage material 141
may be determined based on the temperature of the storage
compartment 20 illustrated in FIG. 1.
The ice thermal storage material 141 is sealed by an enclosure 142
surrounding the ice thermal storage material 141. Since the ice
thermal storage material 141 may increase or decrease in volume
during phase change, the enclosure 142 is made of an elastic
material to cope with the volume change of the ice thermal storage
material 141. For example, the enclosure 142 is made of a synthetic
resin film, such as a polyethylene film. The ice thermal storage
pack 140 may be fabricated by sandwiching the ice thermal storage
material 141 between two synthetic resin films and attaching rims
of the synthetic resin films.
To fix the ice thermal storage pack 140 within the case 101, the
ice thermal storage pack 140 may be provided with a fixing hole
143. The fixing hole 143 may be located at a bonding region of the
synthetic resin films and a plurality of fixing holes may be
provided as necessary.
The case 101 includes a housing 102 in which the ice thermal
storage pack 140 is received, and a heat transfer plate 130 coupled
to the housing 102 so as to come into contact with the ice thermal
storage pack 140.
The housing 102 defines an external appearance of the ice thermal
storage device 100. The housing 102 may have a top opening in which
the heat transfer plate 130 is located. The housing 102 may include
a first housing 110 defining a bottom surface and a second housing
120 coupled to the first housing 110 to support the heat transfer
plate 130 coupled thereto.
The rim of the first housing 110 may be bent upward to define a
sidewall of the case 101. An assembly groove 111 is formed in an
upper end of the first housing 110, and a lower end of the second
housing 120 is configured so as to be fitted into the assembly
groove 111, enabling engagement of the first housing 110 and the
second housing 120.
The second housing 120 is provided with rails 121 to which the heat
transfer plate 130 is slidably fitted. The rails 121 may be
attached to an inner ceiling surface of the second housing 120 to
extend in a longitudinal direction of the heat transfer plate 130
by a predetermined length. More particularly, two rails 121 may be
provided to support opposite sides of the heat transfer plate 130
respectively.
The heat transfer plate 130 is located above the ice thermal
storage pack 140 such that a lower surface of the heat transfer
plate 130 comes into contact with the ice thermal storage pack 140.
The heat transfer plate 130 assists efficient heat-exchange between
relative hot food and the relatively cold ice thermal storage pack
140, which increases cooling efficiency of food.
Most heat transfer between the heat transfer plate 130 and the ice
thermal storage pack 140 is performed by conduction and therefore,
the greater the contact area between the heat transfer plate 130
and the ice thermal storage pack 140, the greater the cooling
efficiency of the heat transfer plate 130. When the ice thermal
storage material 141 within the ice thermal storage pack 140 is in
liquid phase, the ice thermal storage pack 140 may be deformed in
shape by external force. Thus, upon assembly of the case 101, the
heat transfer plate 130 is assembled to apply pressure to the ice
thermal storage pack 140 such that the lower surface of the heat
transfer plate 130 comes into contact with the upper surface of the
ice thermal storage pack 140.
The heat transfer plate 130 may be made of a metallic material and
more particularly, a metal having high thermal conductivity and
chemical stability against water. For example, the heat transfer
plate 130 is made of an aluminum alloy.
A surface of the heat transfer plate 130 may be cooled to a
temperature below zero, which may cause injury to a user hand when
the user's hand touches the metallic heat transfer plate 130 when
attempting to take out food. To prevent such injury, a coating
layer (not shown) may be formed on an upper surface of the heat
transfer plate 130 on which food is placed. The coating layer may
be made of a general material used to coat a metallic surface. For
example, fluorine coating or synthetic resin coating may be
used.
In a state in which food is placed on the upper surface of the heat
transfer plate 130, the case 101 containing the heat transfer plate
130 receives load of food. To prevent deformation or damage to the
case 101 by the load of the food, a load carrying member 112 is
provided in the housing 102 to carry the load of the food applied
to the heat transfer plate 130. In consideration of the fact that
the load of the food is applied downward, the load carrying member
112 is vertically installed such that a lower end thereof is fixed
on an inner bottom surface of the housing 102 and an upper end
thereof comes into contact with the heat transfer plate 130 to
carry it. The load carrying member 112 may be formed integrally
with the housing 102.
The load carrying member 112 may extend in a longitudinal direction
of the housing 102 to divide the interior space of the housing 102
into two spaces. Ice thermal storage packs 140 and 140' may be
arranged respectively in the spaces divided by the load carrying
member 112.
Support bars 113 and 114 may extend in a longitudinal direction of
the ice thermal storage pack 140 to support lateral surfaces of the
ice thermal storage pack 140. The support bars 113 and 114 may be
fixed on the inner bottom surface of the housing 102. At least a
part of the lateral surface of the ice thermal storage pack 140
does not come into contact with the corresponding support bar 113
or 114, to enable formation of an expansion induction region 115
which will be described hereinafter. Specifically, upper ends of
the support bars 113 and 114 are located lower than the upper
surface of the ice thermal storage pack 140. The support bars 113
and 114 may include a first support bar 113 and a second support
bar 114 to support opposite lateral surfaces of the ice thermal
storage pack 140.
The housing 102 may be provided at the inner bottom surface thereof
with a fixing pin 118 corresponding to the fixing hole 143. As the
fixing pin 118 is fastened into the fixing hole 143, the ice
thermal storage pack 140 may be kept at a fixed position. Note that
a plurality of fixing pins 118 and a plurality of fixing holes 143
may be provided.
The expansion induction region 115 is defined between the upper
ends of the support bars 113 and 114 and the inner ceiling surface
of the case 101. The expansion induction region 115 extends in a
longitudinal direction of the support bars 113 and 114 along the
upper ends of the support bars 113 and 114. When the ice thermal
storage material 141 undergoes phase change from liquid to solid
and the volume of the ice thermal storage pack 140 increases, a
portion of the ice thermal storage pack 140 supported by the
support bars 113 and 114 is limited in expansion and therefore, the
remaining lateral surfaces of the ice thermal storage pack 140 not
supported by the support bars 113 and 114 may expand in a
longitudinal direction of the heat transfer plate 130 into the
expansion induction region 115. Allowing expansion of only a part
of the ice thermal storage pack 140 into the expansion induction
region 115 other than the entire lateral surface of the ice thermal
storage pack 140 may assure that the lower surface of the heat
transfer plate 130 continuously comes into close contact with the
upper surface of the ice thermal storage pack 140. As such, high
cooling efficiency may be maintained even if the ice thermal
storage pack 140 is deformed due to phase change of the ice thermal
storage material 141.
FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the ice thermal storage device in
accordance with another embodiment, and FIG. 4C is a sectional view
of the ice thermal device in accordance with another
embodiment.
Variation in the volume of the ice thermal storage material 141 may
cause the enclosure of the ice thermal storage material 141 to
break due to pressure applied from the ice thermal storage material
141. To prevent breakage of the enclosure 142, a predetermined
quantity of air may be present in the form of bubbles within the
ice thermal storage pack 140 along with the ice thermal storage
material 141. The air tends to be reduced in volume when the volume
of the ice thermal storage material 141 increases via phase change
to a solid. Such a reduction in the volume of the air may offset
the increase in the volume of the ice thermal storage material 141
even if the volume of the ice thermal storage pack 140 does not
increase. As such, the air acts to reduce pressure applied to the
enclosure 142 by the ice thermal storage material 141, preventing
breakage of the enclosure 142.
The air has a lower density than the ice thermal storage material
141 and may be located above the ice thermal storage material 141
within the ice thermal storage pack 140. Also, the air has a lower
thermal conductivity than the heat transfer plate 130 and may
deteriorate heat transfer between the ice thermal storage material
141 and the heat transfer plate 130.
An air-bubble guide region 116 is provided to guide upward
expansion of an upper edge of the ice thermal storage pack 140. The
air, which has a lower density than the ice thermal storage
material 141, may be collected in the air-bubble guide region 116.
The air-bubble guide region 116 may be provided near the expansion
induction region 115.
The air-bubble guide region 116 may be provided between the upper
edge of the ice thermal storage pack 140 and the heat transfer
plate as illustrated in FIG. 4B, or may be provided between the
upper edge of the ice thermal storage pack 140 and the housing 102
as illustrated in FIG. 4C.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an ice thermal storage device in
accordance with another embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the ice thermal storage device 200
includes an ice thermal storage pack 240, a first heat transfer
plate 230a and a second heat transfer plate 230b arranged to come
into contact with upper and lower surfaces of the ice thermal
storage pack 240 respectively, and a housing 210 to which the first
heat transfer plate 230a and the second heat transfer plate 230b
are coupled.
The housing 210 may be provided with rails 211a and 211b for
coupling of the first and second heat transfer plates 230a and
230b. The first heat transfer plate 230a and the second heat
transfer plate 230b are slidably fitted into the respective rails
211a and 211b. The first heat transfer plate 230a and the second
heat transfer plate 230b may have the same configuration as the
heat transfer plate 130 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4A.
Support bars 213 and 214 and a load carrying member 212 may be
secured to the housing 210 to extend between opposite inner wall
surfaces of the housing 210.
The ice thermal storage device 200 may perform heat transfer
through upper and lower sides thereof. Food located on the first
heat transfer plate 230a may be directly cooled by coming into
contact with the first heat transfer plate 230a, whereas food
located below the second heat transfer plate 230b may be indirectly
cooled by cold air which is generated by heat exchange with the
second heat transfer plate 230b.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are views illustrating expansion of the ice thermal
storage pack included in the ice thermal storage device in
accordance with different embodiments.
The ice thermal storage material 141 illustrated in FIG. 6A is in
liquid phase. The ice thermal storage pack 140 is supported at
opposite sides thereof by the first support bar 113 and the second
support bar 114. Air 144, which is present in the ice thermal
storage pack 140 along with the ice thermal storage material 141,
occupies an upper interior space of the ice thermal storage pack
140. The volume of the ice thermal storage material 141 expands if
the ice thermal storage material 141 is changed to a solid phase
under the influence of the surrounding low temperature.
The ice thermal storage material 141 illustrated in FIG. 6B is in a
solid phase. Expansion of a portion of the ice thermal storage pack
140 in contact with the support bars 113 and 114 is limited, which
causes the ice thermal storage pack 140 to be expanded into the
expansion induction region 115. In this case, the ice thermal
storage pack 140 may maintain constant contact with the heat
transfer plate 130. In addition, since the air 144 present in the
ice thermal storage pack 140 is likely to be collected into the
air-bubble guide region 116 during expansion of the ice thermal
storage pack 140, it may be possible to prevent the air 144 from
hindering heat transfer between the heat transfer plate 130 and the
ice thermal storage material 141.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the ice thermal device in
accordance with another embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the ice thermal storage device 100 may be
mounted in the storage compartment 20.
The inner wall of the storage compartment 20 is provided with the
support structure 21 and the ice thermal storage device 100 is
externally provided with a mounting structure 117 corresponding to
the support structure 21. The support structure 21 may be a groove
indented in the inner wall of the storage compartment 20 and the
mounting structure 117 may be a protrusion corresponding to the
groove. Of course, conversely, the support structure 21 may be a
protrusion and the mounting structure 117 may be a corresponding
groove.
The ice thermal storage device 200 illustrated in FIG. 5 may be
mounted in the storage compartment 20 in the same manner.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating an ice thermal storage
device in accordance with another embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the first storage container 50 may have a
bottom opening 51 and a seating recess 52 around the opening 51.
The second storage container 60 may have a top opening 61.
The ice thermal storage device 200 may be provided at an outer
periphery thereof with a seating protrusion 217 having a shape
corresponding to that of the seating recess 52. As the seating
protrusion 217 is fitted into the seating recess 52, the ice
thermal storage device 200 is mounted to the first storage
container 50.
Food received in the first storage container 50 above the first
heat transfer plate 230a may be cooled by the ice thermal storage
pack 240. Food received in the second storage container 60 may be
indirectly cooled as interior cold air of the second storage
container 60 is cooled by a lower surface of the second heat
transfer plate 230b.
FIG. 9A is a perspective view illustrating an ice thermal storage
device in accordance with a further embodiment, and FIG. 9B is a
sectional view of the ice thermal storage device illustrated in
FIG. 9A.
As illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, an ice thermal storage device
300 includes an ice thermal storage pack 340, a heat transfer plate
330 arranged to come into contact with the ice thermal storage pack
340, a first housing 310 in which the ice thermal storage pack 340
is received, and a second housing 320 coupled to the first housing
310.
The ice thermal storage pack 340 is identical to the ice thermal
storage pack 140 illustrated in FIG. 3. In addition, the ice
thermal storage pack 340 is fixed to the first housing 310 in the
same method as that as illustrated in FIG. 3.
The first housing 310 is provided at corners thereof with
upwardly-protruding fastening pieces 319. To correspond to the
respective fastening pieces 319, the heat transfer plate 330 is
provided with fastening holes 331 and the second housing 320 is
provided with fastening recesses 322. The heat transfer plate 330
may be secured to the top of the first housing 310 as the fastening
pieces 319 penetrate the fastening holes 331. Then, the second
housing 320 may be coupled to the first housing 310 as the
fastening pieces 319 are inserted into the fastening recesses 322
and simultaneously, may apply pressure to the heat transfer plate
330 so as to secure the heat transfer plate 330. As such, the heat
transfer plate 330 and the second housing 320 are successively
coupled using the fastening pieces 319, which results in easy
assembly and simplified manufacture of the ice thermal storage
device 300.
As is apparent from the above description, according to one
embodiment, an ice thermal storage pack usable with a refrigerator
is configured to maintain constant contact with a heat transfer
plate even if the volume of the ice thermal storage pack increases
due to phase change of an ice thermal storage material sealed in
the ice thermal storage pack. The ice thermal storage pack has the
effect of continuously maintaining cooling efficiency of food.
Further, the ice thermal storage pack is received in a case that
protects the ice thermal storage pack from external shock, having
no risk of breakage.
Furthermore, even if the ice thermal storage pack breaks within the
case, the case prevents leakage of the ice thermal storage pack,
which prevents damage to food due to the leakage of the ice thermal
storage pack.
Although the embodiment has been shown and described, it would be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in
these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit
of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and
their equivalents.
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